All weekend
HAMMER & TONGUE SLAM FINAL: London's annual battle of the beats, the sharpest spits and the wittiest witterings is back. This two-day event sees passionate poets from all over the world compete for the title of slam champion. It's usually heartfelt, energetic, entertaining and hopefully leaves the excessive alliteration behind. Royal Albert Hall, £15/£20 weekend, book ahead, 6-7 January
FAREWELL TO CHRISTMAS: Christmas is cancelled at the Geffrye Museum for the next two years, as it closes for a revamp. Its closing weekend sees the front lawn and period rooms buzzing with carols, a brass band, Epiphany tales, plus final behind the scenes tours, workshops and lots of street food and hot toddies to keep you fed and watered. Geffrye Museum, free entry, just turn up, 3.30pm-5pm (Saturday), 10am-5pm (Sunday)
INTERNATIONAL LARP FESTIVAL: A festival dedicated to the fantasy world of Larp, (short for Live Action Role-Playing to those in the know) takes over Theatre Delicatessen this weekend. If you fancy a Larp, weekend tickets are sold out but you can still sign up for single events. Theatre Delicatessen (Broadgate), £15-£60, book ahead, 5-7 January
BALLROOM GET DOWN: Kick off the new year with a free party at Southbank Centre. Saturday sees DJ Dbo spinning hip hop, house, funk and soul while Sunday is all about the ladies, with Southbank Centre's resident scratch female DJs spinning tunes for your ears. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 6-7 January
DIDGERIDOO MAKING: Learn about aboriginal dot patterns, make your own version of the instrument and attempt to get a note out of it at this didgeridoo making workshop, to mark Australia Day. Cutty Sark, free with admission, 11.30am-1.30pm and 2pm-4pm, 6-7 January
ROOM 33 AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM: The beautiful, golden statue of Garuda is just one of the hundreds of treasures awaiting you in The British Museum's newly refurbished and reopened China and South Asia galleries. British Museum, free, just turn up, ongoing
Saturday 6 January
CITY PAWS CLUB: Help transform the drab area around this daycare centre into a luscious haven for people and dogs alike. You can choose to sponsor a tree or plant one yourself for £10. (£5 goes to the Woodland Trust and £5 goes to the charity Pets As Therapy). 42 Lower Richmond Road, £10, book ahead, 11am-2pm, every Saturday, until 24 November
WHEN TIME BEGAN: Feed your imagination with some enchanting, entertaining and downright weird tales, as told by three seasoned Crick Crack Club storytellers, who today are joined by sitar player Sheema Mukherjee. King's Place, £8.50/£6.50, book ahead, 11.30am
CERAMICS THERAPY: Lose yourself in the swirling symmetry of geometric shapes at this ceramics class led by award-winning artist Moriam Grillo, (as part of the Dhikr Pictural exhibition, which finishes today). P21 Gallery (King's Cross), free online/£5 on the door, 1pm-4pm
RAVER TOTS: You won't be able to tear kids away from Fire Vauxhall, which has been filled with a bouncy ball pond, a confetti-covered dance floor and a soft play area. There will be balloons, parachutes and glow sticks to play with as well as UV face painting and a two hour DJ set. Fire And Lightbox Complex, (Vauxhall), various prices, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
HASSAN HAJJAJJ: Listen to live music from Bumi Thomas and Abimaro Lakwena today to mark the final weekend of Hassan Hajjajj: La Caravane, an exhibition of bold colourful artwork from the British-Moroccan artist. Somerset House, free, just turn up, 3.30pm-6pm
SWING DANCE CLASS: Want to switch up your dance moves, get fit or just looking for a fun night out? Join this dance class led by Swing Patrol. This event is part of Re:Solutions, a month-long wellness festival. Check out the rest of the programme here. Juju's Bar & Stage (Spitalfields), various prices, just turn up, 5pm-6pm
BOWIE BIRTHDAY NIGHT: Bowie would be celebrating his birthday on the eighth – but no-one parties on a Monday so head to Genesis Cinema tonight for a pre-film cocktail and you'll find Bowie music videos projected on the big bar screen and live music. Genesis Cinema (Mile End), free, book ahead, 7pm
THE UNSEEN HOUR: Spend your evening listening to two eerie tales performed by three actors, who take on ten roles. The horror/comedy performance is recorded in front of you and broadcast fortnightly as a podcast, so you know those gasps and laughs are genuine. Rosemary Branch Theatre (Hoxton), £10, book ahead, 8pm-9pm
FEMALE RAPPERS: If you love getting down to music created by sassy ladies, head to Camden, where DJ collective Who Run The World is hosting a night of badass tunes by female rappers. Camden Assembly, £5 guestlist, book ahead, 9.30pm-3am
Sunday 7 January
TUBE RUN: Certified train geek and on a mission to get fitter this year? Get involved with this group run, following the route of the Hammersmith & City Line, which begins in Hammersmith and finishes in Barking. Bill's next to Hammersmith Tube Station, free, just turn up, 8.30am-1pm
BIKE JUMBLE: Whether you're selling or buying, cycling enthusiasts are bound to leave happy at this bike jumble sale. Food, craft beer and coffee available. Look Mum No Hands, free, just turn up, 10am-1pm, first Sunday of the month
BIG LONDON FLEA: Longing for an interior straight off a retro Pinterest board? Bring bags and cash to this market dedicated to all things salvaged. Expect furniture, homewares, vintage attire, industrial electricals, lighting and unexpected oddities from more than 50 handpicked traders. Epic Dalston, free entry, just turn up, 11am-6pm
NO TROUSERS ON THE TUBE RIDE: This New York import sees brave Londoners take to the Underground totally trouserless (but keep the pants on please). All those with a cheeky streak, who can de-trouser, on the tube, while keeping a straight face are welcome. 11 Newport Place, free, just turn up, 3pm-4.30pm
INTO GREAT SILENCE FILM SCREENING: If the family festivities have got you yearning for silence, you might want to take a leaf out of this monk's book. He spends 18 hours a day with nothing but the sound of his own breath to fill the void. Now that's food for thought. Bertha DocHouse, Curzon Bloomsbury, £12.50/£10, book ahead, 3.45pm
SISTERS OF REGGAE: Get your groove on to the sounds of the UK's first all-female Reggae DJ collective, who'll be spinning ska, rocksteady, revival, roots, rockers and early digital. Upstairs at the Ritzy, free, just turn up, 6pm
SPEAKEASY OPEN MIC: You don't have to be a polished author to sign up to this open mic night, dedicated to "raw, unscratched and exciting new work from artists across the whole spectrum of spoken word." Lend a friendly ear if you don't fancy reading. Phoenix Artist Club, £3 advance, more otd, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
WINTER CONCERT: Prepare to be wowed and question your teenage life choices as the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain takes you on a musical journey of total orchestral magic. They'll be performing Liadov's Enchanted Lake. Barbican Hall, £27/£10, book ahead, 7pm
RADIOHEAD FILM: Grant Gee's film follows Thom Yorke and felllow bandmates as they travel as they tour around Asia, Europe and North America to promote their third album OK Computer. Essential viewing for Radiohead fans. Moth Club, £5.69, book ahead, 7pm-9pm
A FEMALE POWER: Shut the door on the Trumps, Johnsons, and even the Trudeaus of this world and enter a space where feminine forces are at work. Your ticket to this musical theatrical performance gains you free entry to Boe Huntress' EP launch on 28 January. Union Chapel, £15, book ahead, until 28 January